1953 was the second 'New Year' HMS BERMUDA had seen in the Cape this commission and whilst celebrations went on, as they always do wherever in the world an RN ship may be, this one had two extra ingredients. The first and more immediate one was the ship's imminent departure to return to the UK. The second was the coronation of HM The Queen but by the time that came about, in June, most in the ship would have dispersed to other ships and places new. Some indeed would be part of the Coronation Parade itself.
 
Right now 'up-homers', cape brandy and the Nor-Easter Bar continued to radiate the unique South African hospitality for the men in BERMUDA as they prepared the ship and themselves for the long journey - physical and mental - that was in the offing. Apart from runs ashore they also continued to open the ship for children's parties and visitors in the first days of 1953.
 
It was in the forenoon of Monday 26 January 1953 that the ship went to Divisions to welcome the Commander in Chief to the ship and to bid farewell to their assembled friends. Then, just before 1500, with the jetty a sea of service and civilian faces, some smiling some crying, the last line connecting the ship to South Africa was let-go. With a blast on the siren and her paying-off pennant flying the ship was soon clear and fast became, to those left behind, a shrinking dot in False Bay. In the ship everyone put away their No. 1's and moved into sea routine as they had done so often before but this time their was an aire of anticipation and, in a few, trepidation at the thought of changed relationships and emotions that might be on the horizon.

BERMUDA at Simonstown ready for the off as soon as the C in C finishes his brandy!
(Thanks to Ken Carson for picture) 

For those on watch on the 30th there was a total eclipse of the moon during the middle watch but other than that the ten day passage to Freetown and Kissy Oil Jetty was uneventful. Arriving at 1200 on Thursday the 5th of February there was time for a quick run ashore before sailing at 0800 on Saturday. A glimpse of the Canary Islands was had on Wednesday the 11th but the next highlight was rounding Ushant into the English Channel. It was just getting dark at 1735 on Sunday the 15th of February 1953 when the port anchor was let-go in Plymouth Sound. Her passage home had logged 5439.3 nm giving an average speed of around 12.5kts.
The passage was completed, for all but one Dr Douglas Henry, when BERMUDA berthed on 5 & 6 next morning in Devonport Dockyard. Sadly Dr Henry was found dead in his cabin at 0730 that morning. One can only hope that he had taken in the view of Plymouth Hoe before turning in on Sunday night. For most of the ship's company it was only the end of the commission that was nigh. Starboard Watch of Hands went to Foreign Service Leave on Monday followed, on Wednesday morning, by the Port Watch. They had been away from the UK for just over fifteen months. In the afternoon of Wednesday - the 18th of February 1953 - the few who were transferring to the new commission were joined from RNB Devonport by the new ship's company and CO Captain G R Collett, DSC before the formal but low key re-commissioning took place. The remainder of the month escaped as they got on with the process of getting to know the ship and each other. Ships like AUSONIA, PROTECTOR, VERYAN BAY and CAISTOR CASTLE were to be seen around them

PROTECTOR (1936-1970) 

Lighters bringing water, oil, ammunition and rum came and went as Drills intensified for the first couple of weeks of March and then, after firing a salute to C in C, Plymouth and HM The Queen Mother on Wednesday the 18th of March, the pipe "Special Sea Dutymen Close-up" echoed through the ship. Within the hour, the ship's company manning the side, HMS BERMUDA glided out of Plymouth for a couple of hours of calibrations before returning to land dockyard personnel and anchor overnight in the Sound.
 
Next morning lower deck was again cleared to man the side afterwhich BERMUDA turned her stern to Plymouth Hoe on her way to sea to begin the shakedown of the new commission. The side was again manned on Monday as she made her way onto Gibraltar's 47 Berth. Close-by the cruiser EURYALUS, on her way to the South Africa Station, swopped some officers & ratings with BERMUDA before leaving on Thursday. As she did so the carrier INDOMITABLE arrived with the destroyers SOLEBAY & ST JAMES to join SLUYS, CHIVALROUS and the new DAINTY amongst others already in harbour.
One of those from EURYALUS, Acting Commissioned Communications Officer N W Haggar gained the following notoriety ……."now serving in BERMUDA was, between 15 December 1952 and 1 February 1953, whilst serving in EURYALUS, considered negligent in the handling of two copies of restricted BR's resulting in their loss by HMS EURYALUS. In view of the nature of the publications and circumstances of the loss it has been directed that the above named officer shall be logged in accordance with QR & AI Article 509. The above entry has been read by me…".

At Noon on Thursday the 26th of March 1953 BERMUDA fired a 40 gun salute upon the death of HM Queen Mary. In mid-afternoon, accompanied by her sister cruiser GAMBIA, BERMUDA took her place as a member of the Mediterranean Fleet as she followed INDOMITABLE and the destroyers to sea for a relatively sedate passage to enter Malta's Grand Harbour on the 30th where they stayed for a week.

Fresh on station BERMUDA entering GH March 1953 (Pic from Tony Hodge)

For those in HMS BERMUDA the rest of April was a concentrated effort to weld into an effective fighting ship whilst for the others it was just more of what they were used to. Anti-submarine, convoy, air defence, bombardment, screening, damage control and, perhaps most dangerous of all, fuel and oil transfers were exercised and re-exercised with an occasional overnight respite of anchoring in St Pauls Bay and weekends in harbour. Speed through the water was a vital part of multi ship training and the sight of the cruisers, BERMUDA, GLASGOW, GAMBIA plus the Australian BLACK PRINCE and SYDNEY together with the fast minelayer MANXMAN moving at 25 knots from Line Ahead to Line Abreast was indeed an impressive and exciting sight.
A return to Grand Harbour on Wednesday the 29th brought April's seatime to a close with another 1800 miles logged.
 
A tidy up, maintenance and storing took care of the first days of May as the ship prepared to sail on the 6th for the 850 miles passage to Port Said where a mooring was taken on Saturday the 9th. Other ships present included RANPURA, CHEQUERS, CHEVIOT, REGGIO, DIEPPE and MESSINA.

MESSINA (1945 - 1980)

A fortnight later, on Saturday 23rd HMS BERMUDA went down the Canal to Fayid, the home of GHQ British Land Forces, on the Great Bitter Lake south of Ismalia. Dressed overall on Empire Day, Sunday the 24th, the ship looked impressive. On Tuesday the 26th the funeral of Electrical Mechanic Carsh took place. The ship moved overnight up the canal again to anchor in Lake Timsah at 0500 on Thursday. At the same early hour next morning she was on the move again to pass Port Said and cross the Mediterranean to anchor off Limassol, Cyprus at 0800 on Saturday 30 May at the start of a series of official visits.
 
May's mileage totalled just over 1050 miles.

Amongst the early visitors came the District Commander and the Air Officer, Commanding, followed by a stream of local dignitaries. On Wednesday the ship moved to Paphos where a returning Naval Guard lost rifle No. U1508 overboard. Divers never found it. From Friday through to Wednesday the anchorage was off Larnaca where the usual courtesies were given and received including parties for the local children and the ship opened to visitors.
 
With flags at the masthead to mark the birthday of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh the ship arrived, on Wednesday the 10th, off Famagusta where HE The Governor of Cyprus was embarked to watch a day of evolutions at sea. Next day, HM The Queen's Birthday, the ship was again dressed overall and fired the royal salute at Noon as the wind increased and notice for steam was shortened in. It later eased to allow them to spend the weekend quietly.

On Monday after FO2 had thanked the ship's company for their efforts the ship sailed at 1700, in company with the oiler BLUE RANGER and destroyer CHIEFTAIN, to arrive on the East Mole, Beirut at 0830 next morning. Other RN ships were already there including the LCT REGGIO. The rest of the week saw HE The British Ambassador visit the ship, the ship's company enjoy a 'Splice the Mainbrace' and FO2 and staff depart the ship. On Thursday their was a boat pulling regatta and on Friday and Saturday visitors were welcomed in the ships that were illuminated by night as Royal Marines performed the 'Beat the Retreat' ceremony to the acclaim and applause of the visitors. The visit ended with an 1120 sailing of BERMUDA for Navy House, Port Said just after the disembarked Royal Marine Band left the port in RFA BLUE RANGER for Malta.
 
BERMUDA remained part of the Royal Navy 'presence' in Port Said for the next ten days watching all kinds of vessels passing up and down the Canal including the aircraft carrier GLORY and the destroyer DEFENDER.
 
During the month of flag-showing diplomacy the ship had logged just 600 nm's.
A departure at 0500 on Thursday July the 2nd 1953 allowed a light-jackstay transfer of mail from GAMBIA at 0600 before the ships got into an air-interception exercise and various evolutions for the day. Friday brought people who normally spent their days between decks to the upper deck as the ship carried out a full power trial from 0830. At 1200 speed was reduced to 20 kts (170 Revs) but four hours later 'Revolutions 220' brought the speed up again to land, as soon as possible, injured AB Jay to RN Hospital Bighi. That was achieved soon after the ship arrived at 0320 on Saturday morning.
 
BERMUDA stayed between buoys in Grand Harbour for the next week using the time to host a dinner party and continue maintenance of the ship whilst watching CUMBERLAND, WAKEFUL and HMAS BLACK PRINCE come and go.

CUMBERLAND (1928 - 1959)

Here is one of those days as seen by  the Officer of the Watch and Quartermaster.
 
Thursday 9th July 1953 - A 1953 day in Malta's Grand Harbour from the Logbook of HMS BERMUDA
 
0025     1 rating under protective custody
0135     1 rating under close arrest
0700     Both watches of hands employed painting ships side
0720     THESEUS in
0830     MANXMAN out
0850     MAURAUDER out
0905     SURPRISE out
1000     C in C Mediterranean Fleet passed calling on Indian Navy Ship DELHI
1035     Captain's rounds of Electrical Department
1125     CHIEFTAIN in
1145     Captain's rounds completed
1200     Hands from storing and painting to Make & Mend
1245     D36 out
1245     BARDSEY in
1330     CUMBERLAND in
1415     BARFLEUR in
1535     BARFLEUR out
1615     Motor boat hoisted
1630     Victualling lighter C228 left ship
1658     BARHILL in
Leave Starboard Watch 1615 - 0700. C&PO's 0730. Men under age 2300. Boys 1900.
Canteen Leave 2nd Part of Port Watch 1800 - 2230. C&PO's 2300
Make and mend to men employed Storing and Painting.

A bit of Bronzy Bronzy! (Pic from Stan Jones)

On Sunday the 12th, a baptism took place onboard (do you know who it was?) after which FO2 staff began joining the ship once more. Monday saw the ship at sea early in company with many others as they settled into a couple of weeks of joint and continuous exercises with all the senior officers at sea as well. Ships included most of those in the 'Thursday' list above plus GLASGOW, MEON, LCT 4040, REGGIO, DIEPPE, ST KITTS, WRANGLER (F5) CHEQUERS, BLACK PRINCE, TEREDO, SENTINEL, TALENT, TOKEN, INS RANJIT & JUMNA, RFA ROWANOL, DINGLE DALE & BLUE RANGER
Exercise 'BULLOCK' on Wednesday/Thursday saw a major landing of Royal Marines in Vatika Bay within Greece's Gulf of Corinth. Force 8-9 winds on Saturday increased the challenges as the ships manoeuvred and tracked submarines and fought mock battles. On Monday after a night and day of anti-submarine, ABCD and air defence exercises the ship stopped for 'Hands to bathe' before continuing up to Phaleron Bay, Athens.
 
With a Turkish Navy Liaison Officer onboard Phaleron Bay was left astern on Saturday afternoon as the ship moved off through the Dardenelles to anchor with the fleet off Istanbul on Monday. Here, there were ships of many nations present, including USS BALTIMORE and HMS FORTH (now there's a contrast) when next day lower decks were cleared and ships were dressed overall to be reviewed by the President of Turkey (Celal Bayar). The British P&O steamship ORONSAY was one of the ships to depart the following morning.
Lieutenant John Anthony Savill, Royal Marines, will remember Istanbul and the previous weeks demanding landing exercises for he was 'logged' "…..for sleeping upon his watch, as officer of the watch, at 0400…. on Thursday 30th of July 1953.
 
In the month Lt Savill had travelled a mile or two further than the ship's 1343 and look what thanks he got!
 
The fleets began to leave over the weekend but the majority of the RN Mediterranean Fleet sailed on Monday to exercise together before dispersing on Tuesday to various destinations. BERMUDA anchored off Rhodes on Wednesday morning to once more receive official and civilian visitors. Royal Marine and Governor General's Bands stirred the audiences - as bands of such quality always do - and many friends were made once more before the anchor was weighed at the crack of dawn on Monday the 10th of August.

Tony Hodge (2nd from L FR) ready for his first (official) tot & 18th Birthday run ashore in Rhodes 6/8/53.

Westland Sikorsky Dragonfly helicopters (Picture courtesy of David (Stan) Jones)

By 0800, as other ships headed for the Islands, BERMUDA began embarking stores as notice for steam was reduced to six hours on stand-by for earthquake relief. The RM Band disembarked and "Clear lower deck of seaman and marines" was ordered as equipments, supplies and fuel were taken in from both sides of the ship through Thursday and into Friday forenoon. Additional Sick Berth Branch personnel joined the ship and extra men were drafted in from other ships as  vehicles and two helicopters were loaded with the help of crane barges. At this time helicopters were very new to the Fleet and their use from BERMUDA, especially the top of a gun turret was probably innovative.

Just some of the loaded equipment & relief supplies (Pic. Tony Hodge)

Dragonfly helicopter B22 being redied for take off at Zante (Pic. Tony Hodge)

There was very little left standing in Zante after the earthquake (Pic. Tony Hodge)

Additional helicopter crews and mail arrived via a Sunderland flying boat on Sunday afternoon and everyone continued to work hard through the week in helping to bring safety, access and support to the stalwart and appreciative Islanders. Leaving others to continue the relief work BERMUDA sailed at 0830 on Friday the 21st to return to Malta where she stayed for the rest of August. 

In one of the most rewarding months of the commission the log had clocked up 2970 nm's

On Friday the 4th of September BERMUDA moved from No. 8 Buoy into No. 5 Dock for a bottom clean and maintenance. That gave the opportunity for Station Leave for some who went off to Qrendi for a few days while others sharpened up their 'Landing Platoon' skills at Ghain Tuffieha There were some changes of officers and ship's company during the docking period including the arrival on board of 17 Boy Seaman from the UK and Midshipmen Needham and Holland-Martin. All of them were setting out on their first voyage of discovery and career step in the RN following initial training. Cruiser's were ideal 'first ships' for youngsters as they had a full range of equipments and armaments coupled with size, speed and facilities.
 
The tasks of re-storing and ammunitioning quickly followed un-docking on the 15th of October. After a couple of days alongside Parlatorio Wharf the tugs EXPERT, PROMPT and RESPOND were secured alongside on the 19th to move the ship to Boathouse Wharf to continue her Maintenance Period through the rest of October.

Sadly, on Sunday the 25th of October 1953, EM1 Davie, D/SMX 895785, was killed whilst ashore and his funeral took place on Tuesday followed by his kit auction on the 28th.
 
The ship went back to sea early on Friday the 6th of November to shakedown once more. The forenoon saw gun firing and the afternoon was taken up with a full power trial during which a crockery rattling speed of 29.85 knots was achieved over the measured mile thanks to the skills and coaxing of the Engine Room Branch. A weekend open to visitors in Grand Harbour was succeeded by three days of sea trials and training before returning to harbour for a visit from FO2 and the embarkation of 45 Royal Marine Commandos (as opposed to 45 Cdo, RM).
 
At 0945 on Saturday the slip rope was recovered and BERMUDA followed DARING to sea and into Defence Stations and Zig-Zag patterns as the pressure was raised on men and machinery once more. Sunday varied between Church, evolutions and depth-charge firing and on Monday the ship was first shut down to exercise a gas attack then went to action messing with Landing Parties mustered and drilled before Man Overboard was exercised to round things off.

Have you taken it yet? Definitely a poser but does anyone remember its name? (Pic courtesy of Stan Jones)

By 0130 on Tuesday Rosel Barr Light was raised and soon after 0700 the ship was anchored off Navy House, Port Said again. Here, next day, divers were employed searching the ship's bottom, Upper Deck Sentries were posted and No. 2 Section landed as Compound Sentries. Thursday saw the Troopship EMPIRE SHELDON arrive and on Sunday BERMUDA was at Divisions as HMS SKUA came to anchor nearby.

Twenty nine Army/RAF personnel came on board just before 0600 on Monday morning for a couple of days at sea and away from the desert! They watched gun shoots and torpedo firing, ship manoeuvres, steering gear breakdowns and lifeboat drills before returning ashore on Wednesday morning. On Thursday the Captain called upon and received the Governor, Port Said. Apart from Sunday Divisions the weekend passed quietly which is more than can be said for Monday when "One round of Pom-Pom fired by accident" was noted though its destination was not!   
 
November's travels had run the ship some 1102 miles.

For the first ten days of December BERMUDA remained unmoved whilst a variety of merchant ships passed by on their way east or west interspersed with warships such as DALRYMPLE, SAINTES, ST KITTS, ROEBUCK and WHIRLWIND. After that day-running for shoots and air-direction exercises coupled with general drills and action stations took them a week closer to Christmas. There was a Christmas Carol Service at Navy House on Sunday the 20th. Monday the 21st "Hands employed washing ship's side" could only be a pre-cursor for Tuesday and Wednesday's activity "Hands employed painting ship's side". 
 
On Christmas Eve one rating was "Landed to detention" as the remainder settled down to enjoy Christmas Day at Port Said. This time last year the ship was at the diagonally opposite corner of Africa, at the Cape, some 5000 miles (8000km) distant as the crow flies!

The Supply & Secretariat Mess on Christmas Day 1953 (Pic. Stan Jones)

On the 27th it was Sunday Divisions as usual and the ship was underway by 0700 on Tuesday heading west through the Mediterranean to a position for an air interception, then anti-submarine patrol exercise with a Shackleton aircraft through Wednesday afternoon. The ship arrived in Malta mid afternoon on the 31st of December just in time to see in the New Year in the Phoenicia Hotel or down the Gut depending upon your pay, your taste and/or which end of the ship you resided in. OK there was also Corrodino Canteen! Whatever the choice there would have been few - stand fast the duty watch - who did not enjoy it.
 
The final month of 1953 had seen HMS BERMUDA steam through 1127 nautical miles (1297 statute miles or 2087 km)